A vehicle incorporates a gravity-assist energy harvesting suspension system including one or more gravitational positive displacement pumps. The positive displacement pump has a cylinder and a reciprocating piston inside the cylinder. The piston is adapted for movement along a compression stroke and an opposite extension stroke in response to a gravitational bounce of the vehicle when in motion. A turbine comprising a rotor shaft and attached blades is mounted relative to a distal end of a fluid outlet hose connected to the pump. Fluid discharged through the outlet hose acts on the blades, thereby moving and imparting rotational energy to the rotor shaft. A generator is operatively connected to the turbine, and is adapted for converting the rotational energy generated by the rotor shaft to electrical energy.

Provided is a hydraulic machine. A pump pressurizes fluid using power provided by a power source. An actuator works using the pressurized fluid from the pump. A recovery part recovers energy from fluid discharged from the actuator. A first operator input device receives a desired input from an operator to select an eco-mode or a boost mode. The recovery part includes an accumulator storing hydraulic energy by receiving the fluid discharged from the actuator and an assist unit assisting the power source using the hydraulic energy stored in the accumulator. The controller controls the pump such that output power of the pump does not exceed Plmax when the eco-mode is selected or the assist unit does not assist the power source and that the output power does not exceed P2max when the boost mode is selected and the assist unit assists the power source, where Plmax < P2max.

Provided is a hydraulic machine. A pump pressurizes fluid using power provided by a power source. An actuator works using the pressurized fluid from the pump. A recovery part recovers energy from fluid discharged from the actuator. A first operator input device receives a desired input from an operator to select an eco-mode or a boost mode. The recovery part includes an accumulator storing hydraulic energy by receiving the fluid discharged from the actuator and an assist unit assisting the power source using the hydraulic energy stored in the accumulator. The controller controls the pump such that output power of the pump does not exceed Plmax when the eco-mode is selected or the assist unit does not assist the power source and that the output power does not exceed P2max when the boost mode is selected and the assist unit assists the power source, where Plmax < P2max.

A fail-safe drive (1) for an actuating drive is provided, which has a cam disc (8), at least one restoring element, a counter-element (5) and an output shaft (3), with the cam disc (8) and the counter-element (5) being configured for joint conversion of an axial movement of the restoring element along the output shaft (3) into a rotational movement of the output shaft (3). The cam disc (8) has a control cam (10), the profile of which is adapted to a spring characteristic curve of the restoring element such that, in the case of activation of the failsafe drive (1), a constant output movement and/or a constant output torque can be generated.

A hydraulic control system HCS for controlling a variable ratio transmission of a power generating system. A hydraulic motor/pump unit 140 is operably connected to a superposition gear, and is connected to a hydraulic circuit that comprises an orifice 28 and/or a relief valve 29 that opens at a predetermined hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic circuit switches between a variable low-speed operating mode and a torque limiting high-speed operating mode. In the torque limiting high-speed operating mode the hydraulic motor/pump unit 140 is driven by the superposition gear and drives hydraulic fluid through the orifice 28 and/or relief valve 29 to provide a passive torque limiting function. In the variable low-speed operating mode the hydraulic motor/pump unit 140 drives the superposition gear and the hydraulic control system provides a desired rotor 101 speed by controlling hydraulic fluid flow rate through the hydraulic motor/pump unit 140.

A hydraulic control system HCS for controlling a variable ratio transmission of a power generating system. A hydraulic motor/pump unit 140 is operably connected to a superposition gear, and is connected to a hydraulic circuit that comprises an orifice 28 and/or a relief valve 29 that opens at a predetermined hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic circuit switches between a variable low-speed operating mode and a torque limiting high-speed operating mode. In the torque limiting high-speed operating mode the hydraulic motor/pump unit 140 is driven by the superposition gear and drives hydraulic fluid through the orifice 28 and/or relief valve 29 to provide a passive torque limiting function. In the variable low-speed operating mode the hydraulic motor/pump unit 140 drives the superposition gear and the hydraulic control system provides a desired rotor 101 speed by controlling hydraulic fluid flow rate through the hydraulic motor/pump unit 140.

An actuator assist apparatus for use with an actuator has a housing and a piston member slidably disposed in the housing. The piston member divides the interior of the housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The actuator assist apparatus is configurable between a first, primed, configuration and an activated configuration. A force applicator is configured to store energy when the apparatus is in the primed configuration and release the energy to move the piston member relative to the housing. Movement of the piston member applies a force which assists in urging the actuator towards an extended configuration, thereby reducing the minimum operating pressure of the actuator.

An actuator assist apparatus for use with an actuator has a housing and a piston member slidably disposed in the housing. The piston member divides the interior of the housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The actuator assist apparatus is configurable between a first, primed, configuration and an activated configuration. A force applicator is configured to store energy when the apparatus is in the primed configuration and release the energy to move the piston member relative to the housing. Movement of the piston member applies a force which assists in urging the actuator towards an extended configuration, thereby reducing the minimum operating pressure of the actuator.

The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic system for a construction machine, and more particularly, to a hydraulic system for a construction machine including a plurality of actuators, in which each of the actuators includes a pump/motor, is operated under a control of a corresponding pump/motor, and stores working oil in an accumulator or receives the working oil supplemented from the accumulator in accordance with a difference between a flow rate entering the actuator and a flow rate discharged from the actuator.

The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic system for a construction machine, and more particularly, to a hydraulic system for a construction machine including a plurality of actuators, in which each of the actuators includes a pump/motor, is operated under a control of a corresponding pump/motor, and stores working oil in an accumulator or receives the working oil supplemented from the accumulator in accordance with a difference between a flow rate entering the actuator and a flow rate discharged from the actuator.